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Showing posts from January, 2012

Galatians 6:3-5

"If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load." Over the last two weeks, we looked at gently restoring others and carrying others burdens. I think the person who can do that is a pretty amazing Christian! Don't you? And this is where verse 3 may jar us a bit as it almost sounds like Paul is putting these amazing Christians down! But, he has a point. I can imagine thinking, "Ain't I something for sacrificing my time to drive Betty around?" or "Wasn't that wonderful of me to take that hour to listen to Jordan and pray with him while Mike watched the football game?" But watch out! We may be tempted to think we are something (the Saviour perhaps??) when we are not or be tempted to determine the merit of our actions by comparing with someone els...

Galatians 6:2

"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Chirst." What a gift we can give each other as we seek to live this out! Comforting words, a listening ear, a homemade meal, financial help, offers of prayer, and the provision of transportation or childcare are all ways that we can carry each other's burdens when tragedy or trauma strikes - when someone gets laid off or a loved one dies; when spiritual warfare is intense or life just becomes abnormally challenging; when illness or disability drain our strength or old wounds resurface. There are many burdens that we carry. Some are circumstancial, some biological, some have reasons, and some seem completely without reason. Whatever the case, we are to fulfill the law of Christ by carrying each other's burdens. Earlier in Galatians 5, Paul tells the Galatians to not use their "freedom to indulge the sinful nature, rather serve one another in love." In fact, he says, "The entire...

Galatians 6:1

Welcome to Week 1 in 6 Weeks in Galatians 6 ! We start off jumping in to one of the more intense aspects of Christian fellowship – what to do when someone you know sins. So, here we go: Galatians 6:1 “ Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted .” The verse is clearly directed at followers of Jesus and what they are to do “ if someone is caught in a sin ”. I've always read that phrase as “caught in the act”. For example: Hearing someone tell a lie and saying, “Hey, that's not true, I caught you.” But the NLT drew my attention to another meaning for “caught in a sin”. It translates that section “ if another believer is overcome by some sin ”. This person is overwhelmed and overpowered by the sin. They can't move on, they don't know how to change, they are stuck. For example: Someone has told a lie and it is now defining them – they are living accordin...

What to do???

One of the great things about blogging is the accountability. Every Monday I need to be ready to write something. But today I wasn't and I wondered what to do. (Thus today's title!) As I was driving to my dance class thinking and praying about it, I remembered a passage of Scripture that I want to study and decided that this would be my next blog series: Six Weeks in Galatians 6. Here it is: Galatians 6:1-10 (NIV) "1 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. 4 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, 5 for each one should carry their own load. 6 Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the wo...

Happy New Year!

Do you make New Year’s Resolutions? I do. Always have. I love new beginnings. That why I thought I would share a few verses about newness as my New Year’s blog. Let them encourage you. Regardless of whether you make or keep New Year’s Resolutions, the important thing for 2012 is the new life you have in and through Christ. Make this a focus of the coming year and I am confident that you will experience “being transformed into [Jesus’] likeness with ever-increasing glory” (2 Cor.2:18b). Lamentations 3:22-23 “Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” Ephesians 4:22-24 “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ezekiel 36:26 “I will give you a new heart and put ...